Language learning history
Learning languages has never been an overwhelming obstacle to me. I had quite good grades already in the grade school. Consequently, studying languages has boosted my self-confidence.

There were not many language learning options in the grade school. Teachers' methods were very conservative. At the time, that didn't bother me because I couldn't imagine any other ways to learn. I began reading magazines and books in English when I was about ten years old. That helped me a lot. I wasn't always very eager to do my homework – but I was interested in reading English football magazines, listening to American rock music and watching Anglo-American movies. Therefore, it wasn't difficult for me to succeed in the grade school.

My language learning methods began to change in the upper level. I started to take school more seriously. Previously I had been a very relaxed learner. In the upper level, I suddenly changed my methods completely. I began to implement very analytical learning methods: I always did my homework and I couldn't accept making mistakes. Changing learning methodologies only improved my abilities to learn. So, I got constantly good grades in English. Having good English skills started to be part of my identity.

Another change happened when I was in college. In the beginning of my college years I studied in the same way as I had studied in the upper level. But soon I figured out that I wanted to concentrate on the subjects that really interested me. I started to think that there is no point in trying to get as good grades as possible in every subject. After realising that, I began developing my political and philosophical thinking. It meant that I concentrated on history, social studies and philosophy. After that, English wasn't anymore an aim in itself but an instrument. Though English wasn't my main focus, I succeeded in the matriculation examination. I was given L as my grade and I didn't lose many points in that exam.

After that, ironically, my position as an expert of English has waned. I haven't studied English after college. My ability to understand English has developed because I have been forced to read complicated academic texts. On the other hand, writing seems to be enormously difficult these days. I have also noticed that many university students speak a lot better English than me.
This being said, I don't think that I'm in the middle of a personal language crisis. I can cope with my English very well. I just need to practice writing and speak more often. Having good English skills is important for me since I am a political activist. Nowadays, I'm in contact with foreign activists very often. Therefore, it's necessary for me to have good skills in the lingua franca of our days.